More than 51 million Americans have already cast ballots ahead of Tuesday’s midterm elections, according to early-voting trackers cited by multiple outlets, setting a pace that analysts say points to heavy turnout. The US midterms on November 3, 2026 will decide control of the House of Representatives and a third of the Senate, and the early numbers have become the clearest signal yet of how energised the electorate is.
The Associated Press reported that early voting is running well ahead of the last midterm cycle, with particularly sharp increases in states hosting competitive Senate races. In Texas, more than 6.3 million people had voted early by Wednesday, compared with 4.2 million at the same point four years ago — a rise of about 50 per cent. Increases of more than 30 per cent were also reported in Maine, Michigan, North Carolina and Kansas, according to the AP analysis.
That surge matters because the balance of power is close. Democrats need a net gain of just three seats to retake the 435-seat House, while Republicans currently hold a 53–47 majority in the Senate, with 35 seats on the ballot. Analysts cited by several outlets say dozens of House ratings have shifted toward Democrats in the final weeks, though the Senate remains harder for the opposition to win outright.
Why turnout is running so high
Campaign spending has broken prior records, and both parties have poured resources into battleground states in the closing days. President Donald Trump has intensified rallies and urged supporters to vote as if his own name were on the ballot, according to reports of his final-stretch campaigning. Democrats, meanwhile, have framed the election as a referendum on affordability, with rising prices and household budgets dominating voter concerns.
Election officials have also warned that counting will take time in some states. In Alaska, officials said the Senate race could take up to two weeks to decide, a reminder that Tuesday night may not produce a final answer everywhere. The Guardian and CNN both noted that mail ballots and late-arriving votes can extend the count.
What happens after Tuesday
Control of Congress will shape the remainder of Trump’s term, affecting budgets, investigations and the president’s legislative agenda. A Democratic House would be able to constrain that agenda and open inquiries, while a Republican hold would preserve the current alignment. Either way, the early-voting figures suggest voters are treating this midterm as unusually consequential.
Officials have urged voters who have not yet cast a ballot to check their local polling place and hours, and to allow extra time where lines are long. With more than 50.5 million ballots already in, according to one tracker, and further early votes still being counted, the final turnout figure is expected to climb higher still before polls close on Tuesday.
